How do you learn to program?

A:

Quick Answer

The most popular free methods to learn how to program involve websites that offer programming courses, such as Coursera, Codeacademy and Intel's Computer Clubhouse. A variety of books can also be used to learn programming at any skill level.

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A number of places offer free education for programming and coding in a variety of languages, including HTML, CSS, C++, Python, Ruby and almost every other programming language. Top universities also offer courses, including Stanford University's Udacity, which offers free college courses that include Introduction to Computer Science. MIT provides a similar service with MIT Open Courseware, which includes online exams, multimedia content, textbooks, projects and examples for free.

Many computer companies offer programming courses, such as Google's Code University, which covers advanced topics such as distributed systems and web security. Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, offers the Mozilla Developer Network, which teaches HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

A number of smaller websites and organizations can teach programming, and these include CoderDojo, Codeacademy, and Codeschool. Some of these programs are geared toward certain audiences, including girls or specifically African-American girls. Beyond that, a number of available books can serve as an introduction to programming or an opportunity for experienced programmers to learn more.